Book supporting and reading rack

ABSTRACT

A book supporting rack, which is comparable, in a manner of speaking, to a book inclining lectern but which, instead of being atop a pedestal, is designed and adapted to be positioned for use atop a table, a desk or an equivalent relatively stationary support surface. The rack is light in weight and may, if desired, be made of colorful, moldable, plastic material and is characterized by top, side and back walls. The top wall comprises a panel which has a smooth planar surface of an area capable of receiving and supporting an open book in an inclined position and wherein said panel is elevated by an inclining base. The base comprises an upstanding back wall and complemental side walls, and said back and side walls having upper edges united with corresponding marginal edge portions of the top wall or panel. The back and side walls have longitudinal bottom edges which are disposed in a common plane to rest firmly and evenly on a table or the like. The top wall panel has a lower longitudinal edge portion provided with an upstanding rib which constitutes a book positioning and retaining ledge.

United States Patent [1'91 Guenther [111 3,794,284 [451 Feb. 26,1974

[ 1 BOOK SUPPORTING AND READING RACK [76] Inventor: Harry M. Guenther,P.O. Box

19123, Pensacola, Fla. 32503 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:280,122

52 U.S. Cl. 248/441 Primary Examiner' William Schultz Attorney, Agent,or Firm"l-Iarvey B. Jacobson; Clarence A. OBrien 57 I ABSTRACT A booksupporting rack, which is comparable, in a manner of speaking, to a bookinclining lectern but which, instead of being atop a pedestal, isdesigned and adapted to be positioned for use atop a table, a desk or anequivalent relatively stationary support surface. The rack is light inweight and may, if desired, be made of colorful, moldable, plasticmaterial and is characterized by top, side and back walls. The top wallcomprises a panel which has a smooth planar surface of an area capableof receiving and supporting an open book in an inclined position andwherein said panel is elevated by. an inclining base. The base comprisesan upstanding back wall and complemental side walls, and said back andside walls having upper edges united with corresponding marginal edgeportions of the top wall or panel. The back and side walls havelongitudinal bottom edges which are disposed in a common plane to restfirmly andevenly on a table or the like. The top wall panel hasa lowerlongitudinal edge portion provided with an upstanding rib whichconstitutes a book positioning and retaining ledge.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BOOK SUPPORTING AND READING RACK The presentinvention relates .to a portable book supporting and reading rack whichis simple, practical, attractive in appearance, which functions tosupportively retain an open book in an inclined easy-to-read positionand which presents the book at a satisfactory inclination such that thepages thereof are positioned at approximate right angles to the line ofvision.

Persons conversant with the field of endeavor under consideration hereinare aware that portable stands and desks of many and varying types havebeen devised by others working in this field and with a view towardreliably and effectually elevating and inclining books of varying sizesand weight. It follows that an object of the present invention,generally stated, is to advance the .art of portable book supporting andreading racks and,

in so doing, to provide an adaptation which is structurally andfunctionally novel, is capable of being satisfactorily manufactured fromvarying and economical materials, which can be properly endorsed bymanufacturersand retailers, and which well serves the purposes for whichit has been perfected and satisfactorily used.

For background information and because it has a general bearing on thesubject matter .of the invention under advisement, the reader may takeinto account, if so desired, the pedestal type copy holder and booksupport shown in U.S. Pat. No. 651,058, granted to George H. Rogers andfor the'reason that it shows a ledgeequipped inclined book propping andpresenting panel but is otherwise of no moment. Also, and because itface of the panel is provided with interconnected ribs providinghoneycomb type panel reinforcing means.

In carrying out the principles of the invention and stated somewhat moreexplicitly the entire lower edge of the top wall or'panel is increasedin cross-sectional thickness, is wedge-shaped in cross section andprovides a flat bottom rigidifying rib. The bottom of this rib is in aplane common with the longitudinal bottom edges of the side walls andback wall, the side walls being substantially triangulate in sideelevation and .sloping outwardly and downwardly or, conversely, up-

wardly and inwardly to provide the desired appearance and shape and tofacilitate molding and to permit, if so desired, stacking'of apluralityof the book racks for packaging, transmitting and for othermerchandising purposes. v

These together "with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the .detailsof construction andoperation as more fully shows a one-piece easel type'stand or rack madefrom moldable plastic material attention, if so desired, may be accordedthe portable rack-type ease] in U.S. Pat.

No. 3,599,925, granted to Dorothea L. D ubler. Other but now outmodedbook holders and racks could be,'

but need not be, herein referred to for state-of-the-art purposes.

Briefly the herein disclosed concept 'has to do, broadly stated, with aninnovation which is character- .ized as a portable book supportingandreading rack and which is expressly designed and acceptably adaptedto be reliably positioned for convenient and practical use atop a table,desk or an equivalent relatively stationary support surface. As willbeevident by. glancing at the views of the drawing, the adoptedconstruction lends itself to acceptable and approved use in that thecomponent parts are united to provide a well balanced and symmetricalend product which has been found to be pleasing in appearance and suchinconstruction that-it may be made of one-piece moldable plastic materialor made from suitable wooden compoitems, also fiber glass. To the endsdesired, the finished product comprises a top wall or panel having anupper planar surface which is of an area capable of receiving an openbook in a supportively readable inclined position. The panel issupported by a depending elevating and inc ining base, the panel beingfixedly mounted atop the component parts of the base. The componentparts comprise an upstanding back wall and complemental side wallshaving coordinating ends joined together and also having upper edgesunited with and corresponding to marginal edge portions of the top wallor panel. The back and side walls have longitudinal bottom edgesdisposed in a common plane. The panel has a lower longitudinal edgeportion provided with a book positioning and retaining ledge. Theunderneath surhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings forming a part hereof,

' wherein like numerals refer 'to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of .a book supporting and readingrackconstructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

' FIG. 2'is an enlarged view taken approximately on the plane of thesection line 2-2 of FIG. l, looking in the direction of the indicatingarrows.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view the purpose of which is tojshow the mainrigidifying rib across the leading or forward edge and,-rnoreparticularly, to show the auxiliaryinterconnected ribs defining theaforementioned honeycomb-type panel reinforcing and stabilizing means.

FIG. 4 is an end view on 'a suitably small scale looking at FIG. 2 in adirection fromright to left. i

By way of introduction to the description of the details, it isreiterated that th? construction of the overall book supporting andreading rack is such that it may be of one piece form and under whichcircumstances it would preferably be made from high-impact colorful,commercial plastics or fiber glass. On the other hand and although notshown in detail, the component parts could be madeof wood'put togetherin such a manner as'to achieve an overall one-piece concept. The readingrack, construed as a structural entity, is denoted by the numeral 6 andcomprises a substantially rectangular top wall or, more specifically, apanel 8 which can be said to be rectangular in plan and which has asmooth planar top surface 10. The lower or leading marginal edge of thispanel is denoted at 12 and is provided with an upstanding rigidlyattached elongated rib 114 hich may be of a length commensurate inlength with theedge or shorter if 'necessaryJIn any event this ribprovides, in conjunction with the'surface 10, a ledge and supportingrack for a book (not shown). The underneath side of the top wall orpanel is denoted by the numeral 16 in FIG. 2 and as shown here and alsoin FIG. 3 the overall surface is provided with reinforcing means whichis referred to broadly as honeycomb reinforcing means 18 and is made upof interconnected companion longitudinal and transverse ribs 20 and 22.These ribs 1 may be sufiiciently close together that thepocket-likerecesses are approximately one inch square. The upper I 26 to provide asubstantially wedge-shaped rigidifying and stabilizing member 28 whichmay be also considered as a rib and which is complemental to theaforementioned auxiliary ribs 20 and 22. The flat bottom surface of therib 28 is flush with the lower edges 30 and 32 of the several wallswhich go to make up. the supporting and elevating base 34. The back wallis denoted at 36 and the upper median portion is provided with an ovateor an equivalentopening 38 which serves to accommodate two or morefingers and provides a satisfactory finger-grip for lifting and otherhandling requirements. The side walls which coact with the back wall aredenoted at 40 and can be described as being substantially triangulate inside elevation. These several base-forming walls coordinate in providingnot only a self-standing base suitable for-use on a table, desk or thelike but also means which serves to give the desired 24 degree slope orincline to the top wall panel 8.

It will be understood that'materials, shape and size are not criticalbut may be touched upon in a general manner for the reason thatexperience has shown that the base 34 should be the same length as thetop panel 8. The top panel may be some 12 inches more or less in lengthwhereas the lower edge of the back wall 32 may be approximately .13%inches. The height of the outwardly and downwardly sloping (converselyinwardly and upwardly inclining) walls can be some 3'Vsth inches if sodesired. The length of the side walls and also the top wall may be andgenerally is some 9 inches.

.The reading rack holds an open book tilted at an angle of 24. To aperson sitting at a table or desk this unique reading rack presents thepages of the book at approximately a right angle to his line of sight.This is an ideal position for good vision. As mentionedand broadlyreiterated, the rack is such in construction that several racks can benested together for economy in packaging and for warehousing andshipping. It will also be clear that the reading rack could be made invarious other sizes all using approximately the same design and the 24degree angle of pitch. Then too, it will be evident that when the viewsare considered singly and collectively a clear and comprehensiveunderstanding of the invention will be had, for which reason a moreextended description is deemed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l.'A portable book supporting and reading rack expressly designed andadapted to be positioned for con-- venient use atop a table, desk or anequivalent relatively stationary support surface comprising, a panelhaving a top planar surface of an area capable of receiving an open bookin a 'supportively readable position, and a depending stationary panelelevating and inclining base atop which said panel is fixedly mounted,said base embodying an upstanding back wall and complemental side wallshaving coordinating vertical ends joined together, and also having upperhorizontal edges united with corresponding marginal edge portions ofsaid panel, said back and side walls having longitudinal bottomedges-disposed in a common plane, said panel having a lowerlongitudinaledge portion provided with a book positioning and retainingledge, the underneath surface of said panel being provided with andstabilized by integral interconnected ribs providing honeycombtype panelreinforcing means, the underneath side of the entire leading lower edgeof said panelbeing increased in cross-sectional thickness, wedge-shapedin cross-section and providing a flat-bottomed rigidifying rib, theflat-bottomed surface being in a plane common with the coordinatinglongitudinal bottom edges of said side walls.

2. The book supporting and reading rack defined in and according toclaim 1, and wherein said side walls are substantially triangulate inside elevation, said back wall being approximately rectangular in rearelevation.

3. The book supporting and reading rack defined in and according toclaim 1, and wherein said side walls are substantially triangulate inside elevation, said back wall being approximately rectangular in rearelevation,

said back wall having an upper median portion provided with an openingconstituting a conveniently usable finger-grip and which assists one inpicking up and otherwise handling the overall rack.

4. The book 'supporting and reading rack defined in and according toclaim 2, and wherein said back wall and also said sidewalls inclineupwardly and inwardly toward said panel and said panel is inclinedupwardly at an angle of approximately 24 degrees, whereby to propthebook up in a manner comparable with a book which is being read from aconveniently sloped easy-tocope-with lectem.

5. A portable book supporting and reading rack expressly designed andadapted to be positioned for convenient use atop a table, desk or anequivalent relatively stationary support surface comprising, a panelhaving a top planar surface of an area capable of receiving an open bookin-a-supportively readable position, and a depending elevating andinclining base atop which said panel is fixedly mounted, said baseembodying a substantially rectangular upstanding back wall of a lengthcorresponding to the upper edge of said panel, said back wall slopingoutwardly and downwardly and being provided with a finger accommodatingopening, said basealso embodying complemental side walls having upperedges joined to corresponding marginal edges of the top wall, said sidewalls being approximately triangulate in side elevation, the loweredges-of all of said walls, side and back, being in a common plane, theunderneath surface of said panel being provided with and stabilized byintegral interconnected ribs providing honeycomb-type panel reinforcingmeans, the underneath side of the entire leading lower edge of saidpanel being increased in cross-sectional thickness, wedge-shaped incross section and providing a flat-bottomed rigidifying rib, theflat-bottomed surface being in a'plane common with the coordinatinglongitudinal bottom edges of said side walls.

1. A portable book supporting and reading rack expressly designed andadapted to be positioned for convenient use atop a table, desk or anequivalent relatively stationary support surface comprising, a panelhaving a top planar surface of an area capable of receiving an open bookin a supportively readable position, and a depending stationary panelelevating and inclining base atop which said panel is fixedly mounted,said base embodying an upstanding back wall and complemental side wallshaving coordinating vertical ends joined together, and also having upperhorizontal edges united with corresponding marGinal edge portions ofsaid panel, said back and side walls having longitudinal bottom edgesdisposed in a common plane, said panel having a lower longitudinal edgeportion provided with a book positioning and retaining ledge, theunderneath surface of said panel being provided with and stabilized byintegral interconnected ribs providing honeycomb-type panel reinforcingmeans, the underneath side of the entire leading lower edge of saidpanel being increased in cross-sectional thickness, wedgeshaped incross-section and providing a flat-bottomed rigidifying rib, theflat-bottomed surface being in a plane common with the coordinatinglongitudinal bottom edges of said side walls.
 2. The book supporting andreading rack defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said sidewalls are substantially triangulate in side elevation, said back wallbeing approximately rectangular in rear elevation.
 3. The booksupporting and reading rack defined in and according to claim 1, andwherein said side walls are substantially triangulate in side elevation,said back wall being approximately rectangular in rear elevation, saidback wall having an upper median portion provided with an openingconstituting a conveniently usable finger-grip and which assists one inpicking up and otherwise handling the overall rack.
 4. The booksupporting and reading rack defined in and according to claim 2, andwherein said back wall and also said side walls incline upwardly andinwardly toward said panel and said panel is inclined upwardly at anangle of approximately 24 degrees, whereby to prop the book up in amanner comparable with a book which is being read from a convenientlysloped easy-to-cope-with lectern.
 5. A portable book supporting andreading rack expressly designed and adapted to be positioned forconvenient use atop a table, desk or an equivalent relatively stationarysupport surface comprising, a panel having a top planar surface of anarea capable of receiving an open book in a supportively readableposition, and a depending elevating and inclining base atop which saidpanel is fixedly mounted, said base embodying a substantiallyrectangular upstanding back wall of a length corresponding to the upperedge of said panel, said back wall sloping outwardly and downwardly andbeing provided with a finger accommodating opening, said base alsoembodying complemental side walls having upper edges joined tocorresponding marginal edges of the top wall, said side walls beingapproximately triangulate in side elevation, the lower edges of all ofsaid walls, side and back, being in a common plane, the underneathsurface of said panel being provided with and stabilized by integralinterconnected ribs providing honeycomb-type panel reinforcing means,the underneath side of the entire leading lower edge of said panel beingincreased in cross-sectional thickness, wedge-shaped in cross sectionand providing a flat-bottomed rigidifying rib, the flat-bottomed surfacebeing in a plane common with the coordinating longitudinal bottom edgesof said side walls.